Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus which may include an apparatus body, a feed tray, an image forming unit, an eject section and a first transport mechanism forming a first transport path extending between the feed tray and the eject section via the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus may also include a second transport mechanism forming a second transport path that extends between a branch position located downstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path and a merge position located upstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path. The second transport mechanism may be configured to transport the recording medium along the second transport path and reintroduce the recording medium to the first transport path from the merge position. At least one part of the second transport mechanism and the feed tray may be incorporated in a detachable unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus body; 
 a feed tray comprising a support member that supports a recording medium in a form of a sheet placed on an upper side of the support member; 
 an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium fed from the feed tray; 
 an eject section configured to eject the recording medium on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit; 
 a first transport mechanism forming a first transport path extending between the feed tray and the eject section via the image forming unit, the first transport mechanism configured to transport the recording medium along the first transport path; and 
 a second transport mechanism comprising an intermediate section and a roller pair including a first roller attached to the support member and a second roller attached to at least one part of the intermediate section, the second transport mechanism forming a second transport path that extends between a branch position located downstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path and a merge position located upstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path and that branches off from the first transport path at the branch position and merges with the first transport path at the merge position, the second transport mechanism configured to transport the recording medium along the second transport path and reintroduce the recording medium to the first transport path from the merge position; 
 wherein the at least one part of the intermediate section and the feed tray are incorporated in a detachable unit that is configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus body, and when the detachable unit is detached from the apparatus body, the support member is configured to be moved with respect to the at least one part of the intermediate section between a first position and a second position such that, when the support member is moved from the first position to the second position, the first roller is displaced together with the support member to separate from the second roller. 
 
     
     
       2. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one part of the intermediate section is provided directly below the support member. 
     
     
       3. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein, when the support member is in the second position, the support member exposes the at least one part of the intermediate section. 
     
     
       4. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the support member is positioned in the first position during an image forming operation. 
     
     
       5. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the roller pair pinches the recording medium when the recording medium is transported. 
     
     
       6. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a lock mechanism attached to the feed tray,
 wherein the support member is further configured to be moved between the first position and the second position along a movement path, and wherein at least one part of the lock mechanism protrudes from the feed tray and extends into the movement path of the support member such that the at least one part of the lock mechanism restricts displacement of the support member while keeping the first and second rollers of the roller pair in press contact with each other. 
 
     
     
       7. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the roller pair includes:
 a transport roller that is rotationally driven to transport the recording medium, and 
 a pinch roller that rotates with the recording medium while pinching the recording medium with the transport roller. 
 
     
     
       8. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a feed mechanism is incorporated in the detachable unit. 
     
     
       9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus body; 
 a feed tray configured to accommodate a recording medium; 
 an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium fed from the feed tray; 
 an eject section configured to eject the recording medium on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit; 
 a first transport mechanism forming a first transport path extending between the feed tray and the eject section via the image forming unit, the first transport mechanism configured to transport the recording medium along the first transport path; and 
 a second transport mechanism forming a second transport path that extends between a branch position located downstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path and a merge position located upstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path and that branches off from the first transport path at the branch position and merges with the first transport path at the merge position, the second transport mechanism configured to transport the recording medium along the second transport path and reintroduce the recording medium to the first transport path from the merge position; 
 wherein the second transport mechanism includes an intermediate section and a roller pair including a first roller attached to a first part of the intermediate section and a second roller attached to a second part of the intermediate section, 
 wherein the roller pair pinches the recording medium between the first roller and the second roller when the recording medium is transported along the second transport path, 
 wherein the second part of the intermediate section and the feed tray are incorporated in a detachable unit that is configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus body and the first part of the intermediate section is not incorporated in the detachable unit such that, when the detachable unit is detached from the apparatus body, the second roller is displaced together with the detachable unit and separates from the first roller, and 
 wherein the second part of the intermediate section includes a moveable section which, when the detachable unit is detached from the apparatus body, is configured to swing with respect to the feed tray about a hinge between a first position and a second position, wherein the moveable section is positioned in the first position during an image forming operation, and wherein the second position provides access to the recording medium accommodated in the feed tray. 
 
     
     
       10. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the first part of the intermediate section includes an upper portion of the intermediate section and the second part of the intermediate section includes a lower portion of the intermediate section. 
     
     
       11. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the second roller is positioned on the moveable section. 
     
     
       12. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus body; 
 a feed tray comprising a support member that supports a recording medium in a form of a sheet placed on an upper side of the support member; 
 an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium fed from the feed tray; 
 an eject section configured to eject the recording medium on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit; 
 a first transport mechanism forming a first transport path extending between the feed tray and the eject section via the image forming unit, the first transport mechanism configured to transport the recording medium along the first transport path; and 
 a second transport mechanism comprising an intermediate section and a roller pair including a first roller attached to the support member and a second roller attached to at least one part of the intermediate section, the second transport mechanism forming a second transport path that extends between a branch position located downstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path and a merge position located upstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path and that branches off from the first transport path at the branch position and merges with the first transport path at the merge position, the second transport mechanism configured to transport the recording medium along the second transport path and reintroduce the recording medium to the first transport path from the merge position; 
 wherein the at least one part of the intermediate section and the feed tray are incorporated in a detachable unit that is configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus body, 
 wherein, when the detachable unit is attached to the apparatus body, the detachable unit is disposed within the apparatus body, 
 wherein, when the detachable unit is detached from the apparatus body, the at least one part of the intermediate section is configured to be moved with respect to the support member between a first position and a second position such that, when the at least one part of the intermediate section is moved from the first position to the second position, the second roller is displaced together with the at least one part of the intermediate section to separate from the first roller; and 
 wherein the at least one part of the intermediate section is provided directly below the support member. 
 
     
     
       13. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the first roller and the second roller are configured to be exposed to an outside of the detachable unit when the detachable unit is detached from the apparatus body. 
     
     
       14. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein, when the at least one part of the intermediate section is in the second position, the at least one part of the intermediate section exposes the roller pair. 
     
     
       15. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one part of the intermediate section is positioned in the first position during an image forming operation. 
     
     
       16. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the roller pair pinches the recording medium when the recording medium is transported. 
     
     
       17. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the roller pair includes:
 a transport roller that is rotationally driven to transport the recording medium, and 
 a pinch roller that rotates with the recording medium while pinching the recording medium with the transport roller. 
 
     
     
       18. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein a feed mechanism is incorporated in the detachable unit. 
     
     
       19. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus body; 
 a feed tray comprising a support member that supports a recording medium in a form of a sheet placed on an upper side of the support member; 
 an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium fed from the feed tray; 
 an eject section configured to eject the recording medium on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit; 
 a first transport mechanism forming a first transport path extending between the feed tray and the eject section via the image forming unit, the first transport mechanism configured to transport the recording medium along the first transport path; and 
 a second transport mechanism forming a second transport path that extends between a branch position located downstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path and a merge position located upstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path and that branches off from the first transport path at the branch position and merges with the first transport path at the merge position, the second transport mechanism configured to transport the recording medium along the second transport path and reintroduce the recording medium to the first transport path from the merge position, wherein the second transport mechanism comprises:
 an intermediate section provided directly below the support member including a first intermediate section portion and a second intermediate section portion; 
 a first roller pair disposed at the first intermediate section portion and including a first roller and a second roller configured to pinch therebetween the recording medium when the recording medium is transported along the second transport path; and 
 a second roller pair disposed at the second intermediate section portion and including a third roller and a fourth roller configured to pinch therebetween the recording medium when the recording medium is transported along the second transport path, 
 
 wherein the second intermediate section portion, the second roller pair, and the feed tray are incorporated in a detachable unit that is configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus body, 
 wherein, when the detachable unit is attached to the apparatus body, the detachable unit is disposed within the apparatus body, and 
 wherein, when the detachable unit is detached from the apparatus body, the first intermediate section and the first roller pair remain within the apparatus body.